NH 'Fugitive of Week' caught at Kelley Square in Worcester

WORCESTER — A man listed as a “Fugitive of the Week” by New Hampshire authorities was arrested Monday night in Worcester, the U.S. Marshal's Service reported.

Vodie Bishop, 21, most recently of Worcester, was arrested Monday evening by Worcester police officers. The Hillsboro County Sheriff's Office in New Hampshire had requested help from the U.S. Marshals — N.H. Joint Fugitive Task Force in August in finding Mr. Bishop, who was wanted on arrest warrants accusing him of three counts of failure to appear for felonious sexual assault.

Information about Mr. Bishop was aired on a weekly media feature known as the “Fugitive of the Week” on Aug. 23. The segment was broadcast on New Hampshire television stations and published in newspapers there.

On Monday, Worcester police were checking on the welfare of a possibly suicidal person in the area of Kelley Square and found out that person was Mr. Bishop, police said.

“Bishop had fled Manchester, N.H., area after the extensive media attention brought by the 'Fugitive of the Week' program,” a news release said. “A frisk of Bishop found that he was carrying several baggies of what is believed to be crack cocaine in his pocket.”

Mr. Bishop was arrested on the outstanding arrest warrants and for possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute. Authorities did not say when he will be returned to New Hampshire. He is being held in the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction.

A Nashua, N.H., Police Department news release from December 2011 said Mr. Bishop is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl. On Dec. 9, 2011, officers there received a report of a sexual assault involving Mr. Bishop.

Police investigated and alleged that Mr. Bishop induced the girl to smoke marijuana a couple of times before having sex with her.